Episode 54

Marquis Rohan and Yvonne returned to the vicinity of the port, each holding a bottle of green liquor.

He carried both bottles, hoping Yvonne would hold his hand.

“wife, we can drink while watching the sunset.”

“Yes.”

Yvonne, who had been looking at the sunset, said. She wanted Marquis Rohan to watch the sunset with her, but he only looked at her, making her feel a bit embarrassed.

“wife, aren’t you curious about how the sunset looks?”

Seeing the sunset every day didn’t make it feel particularly special. However, he thought that if Yvonne wanted it, he would comply and shifted his gaze to the setting sun beyond the horizon.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t it?”

“But you are much more beautiful, my lady.”

Marquis Rohan seemed to say embarrassing things without any hesitation. Because of that, Yvonne thought of Yurian, who was also quite shameless.

Moreover, he also seemed like a waiting predator.

“Do you think Yurian is doing well?”

“He will be fine, not remembering anything.”

“Do you think my father will just leave him alone?”

“Yes.”

Yvonne recalled the original novel upon hearing Marquis Rohan’s words.

In the original story, Yurian returned after escaping to take revenge on Hildebrandt.

Hildebrandt had the ability to hypnotize any sentient being within his line of sight, but he had a weakness: if they were not in his sight, he couldn’t hypnotize them.

After losing his sight temporarily, Hildebrandt was freed after making a pact with Yurian and, gradually recognizing Yurian, became drawn to him. Though Hildebrandt despised Yurian initially, he eventually grew to love him while trying to dominate and destroy him.

Yurian, too, sought revenge against the emperor who had tried to ruin him, yet couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the emperor. This mutual attraction led them to fall deeply in love with each other.

However, both were extremely possessive, leading to a tragic end.

Hildebrandt hated how he was changing because of Yurian, and Yurian, noticing Hildebrandt’s struggle, further tightened his grip on him.

Although the ending was a bad one, their journey into each other’s hearts was quite interesting.

“Yurian is likely homosexual.”

“What?”

“Yurian will probably end up loving my father.”

Marquis Rohan was puzzled by her words, only growing more confused.

“His Majesty is thoroughly heterosexual.”

“More likely asexual.”

“Hmm…”

Marquis Rohan decided there was no need to reveal that the emperor had once been Yvonne’s fiancé and that they had been deeply in love a long time ago.

He didn’t want to draw any danger now that he felt his love was about to come to fruition.

How hard had it been to get here?

How far had they come?

He couldn’t bear to lose her and return to his former lifeless state as a strategist. He had endured all this time waiting for this moment.

 

 

“wife.”

“Yes?”

“There are many things I am hiding from you.”

“I know.”

“Please forgive me.”

“…Alright. Then don’t let me catch you.”

“…Yes.”

As he seemed on the verge of tears again, Yvonne patted Marquis Rohan on the back.

Yvonne thought that just as she couldn’t tell him everything she knew, he was likely the same. She continued to soothe him, patting his back while watching the ships come and go in the harbor. The liquor bottle held tightly against her chest sloshed in his embrace.

“Your magic has changed my hair color again, Kes.”

The necklace Yvonne wore had the function of changing her hair color. However, it seemed to malfunction and change her hair color every time it came into contact with magic.

“I’ve never seen this hair color before.”

When Yvonne’s hair turned a transparent blue, Marquis Rohan was momentarily mesmerized by her appearance.

“It’s very beautiful.”

“It makes me look crazy, so change it back. Who has hair this blue?”

Concerned, Yvonne spoke, and Marquis Rohan laughed, using his magic again.

This time, her hair returned to platinum blonde.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Does this color suit me?”

“Platinum blonde is your original hair color.”

“I see.”

She found his admiration for her hair annoying and gave a perfunctory response while pulling his hand.

“Shall we speed up the process and drink inside?”

“There is more fine liquor inside.”

“Then let’s drink here and go.”

“Yes.”

They found a spot near the harbor and sat down.

When Yvonne tried to take the bottle, Marquis Rohan opened it for her and handed it to her. He then opened his own bottle.

“It’s the first time we’re drinking together, Kes.”

“It is.”

He was thankful for the sunset, believing it would hide his flushed face from her.

But Yvonne already knew his face was too red, and it wasn’t just because of the sunset. She felt an odd heaviness in her steps, perhaps from a lingering sense of unease.

The emperor won’t look for me.

Moreover, Yurian won’t remember me.

Though I saved my life, I, a foreign element in the original story, will now be completely forgotten.

The only consolation was being with Marquis Rohan. In the original story, Marquis Rohan met his end in Apentina.

After being tormented by Emperor Hildebrandt, he couldn’t forget Princess Yvonne, which led to his suffering. He took his own life because of her, staying in the Bricesys Empire even after her death to reminisce about her by looking at the emperor.

However, the emperor found it amusing to see him longing for Princess Yvonne and ultimately committed unspeakable acts.

Unable to endure it any longer, he eventually fled and, consumed by his longing, took his own life.

That’s why I chose Marquis. I felt that he would see me for who I really am, unlike the original story where I was just an extraneous element.

“Kes.”

“Yes.”

“I never expected to marry like this, but it’s not bad.”

“We should have another proper ceremony.”

“That sounds good too.”

He said that because he thought Yvonne had an illusion about the wedding. Well, what noble lady, no, what member of the imperial family wouldn’t have illusions about their wedding?

He planned to hold a grand wedding for her, so grand that it wouldn’t be a regret even if they didn’t get married in the imperial palace. Though, to avoid being discovered, there might not be any guests.

“Ah.”

She drank as she watched the sunset. The alcohol was much stronger than what she used to drink in her previous life, but it seemed worth the expensive price as it pleasantly warmed her throat as it went down.

“Kes, aren’t you drinking?”

“Please ask, ‘wife, aren’t you drinking?'”

“Hahaha. wife, aren’t you drinking?”

“I will.”

When he said what she wanted, he slowly drank the alcohol. However, he didn’t drink much. He was the only one who could protect her now, and being intoxicated was dangerous.

Although he had built up his body, he wasn’t a martial artist, so he was always on guard.

Marquis didn’t know how to wield a sword. His weapon was not a sword but a pen.

“…wife.”

“Yes.”

“I will do my best until you open your heart to me.”

Yvonne found it pleasing that he seemed to be making that promise more to himself than to her.

“Yes.”

When Yvonne smiled contentedly, he started to reach out to touch her hair but stopped. However, since Yvonne seemed indifferent to his gesture, he finally gathered the courage to move her hair away from her cheek.

* * *

After boarding the ship, it was hell.

“Ugh…”

“wife, are you alright?”

“Yes…”

It was actually Marquis who was seasick. Yvonne found the ship’s rocking better than a carriage and felt fine. Despite having drunk, she didn’t find the ship’s movement too troubling.

On the other hand, Marquis, who had drunk very little to maintain his sobriety, felt like he was dying.

He mustn’t throw up.

He had come this far.

He mustn’t show an unsightly appearance in front of Yvonne.
An unsightly appearance should only be shown when they are married, have children, and when Yvonne completely opens her heart and loves him.

Showing such a pitiful appearance before any affection had developed was unacceptable.

He pretended to be fine, enduring with sheer willpower, but his face was pale, and he was on the verge of fainting from the sea’s rolling.

Moreover, he had once fallen into the water, so he had a fear of water. But he didn’t show it in front of Yvonne.

“My husband is seasick, isn’t he?”

“N-No… Ugh…”

“That’s understandable. Everyone has their weaknesses.”

Feeling sorry for him, Yvonne held his hand and led him to their first-class cabin.

“wife…”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

Yvonne didn’t look back. She could feel that Marquis was slumping without seeing him.

“I wanted to be a reliable husband.”

“That’s a big dream.”

“Dreams are meant to be big.”

He said that, but he felt like he was going to vomit.

“Oh? Isn’t that Princess Your Highness?”

At those words, Marquis Rohan turned pale and looked back.